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Funny People (2009) Review

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Funny People PosterJudd Apatow’s Funny People is a film of three thirds; it starts off well, drawing you in with a string of funny jokes, will send you to sleep in the middle (quite literally in the case of the friend that I saw the film with), and finishes fairly averagely, once again providing a few laughs albeit not as well as in the opening. Apatow’s previous two films, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, are both very funny films, with Funny People he attempts to take a more serious approach however, and I’m not entirely sure it works.

Given the subject matter of this film, Funny People was always going to be more serious than Apatow’s previous two films, despite being prepared for a greater maturity with Funny People I certainly wasn’t expecting the film to be so bland however, and Funny People as a whole is a film that left me sorely disappointed.

Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen both play their parts well, and it’s not their fault that Funny People isn’t very good, some of the supporting cast aren’t so impressive in their roles however, and there are definitely one or two here that are more than a little irritating to watch.

With Funny People there are some decent comedy elements, and there are times when the film is laugh out loud funny, in trying to combine comedy with drama I feel that Apatow’s inexperience in the drama department is highly evident here however, and as such the film as a whole therefore provides for a somewhat disappointing viewing experience. Funny People is by no means awful, and I can think of plenty of films worse than Apatow’s attempt at comedy drama here, it’s certainly not the great film I was hoping for however, and is not one that I’m ever likely to be watching again in the future.

Does Funny People point at the direction that Judd Apatow will be heading towards in the future? I seriously hope not. I’d love to see Judd Apatow get back to his pure comedy ways in the not too distant future, and if he can indeed get back to his old ways then I’m sure that we’ll once again see impressive comedy films from Judd Apatow in years to come.

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Midnight Movie (2008) Review

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Midnight MovieMidnight Movie is a slasher horror film that left me pleasantly surprised. The budget is small and the cast not particularly well known, with limited resources director Jack Messitt has been able to create a really rather enjoyable slasher however, and Messitt I feel is most definitely one to watch out for in the future. Used to playing a cinematography/camera operator role, Midnight Movie was Messitt’s first foray into film directing, and if Midnight Movie is anything to go by then Jack Messitt should surely have a very exciting career ahead of him in film.

The basic plot line here is that a group of friends go out to the cinema to see the midnight showing of a cult 70s slasher flick, The Dark Beneath. It’s the film’s first cinematic showing for over 20 years, and there’s controversy surrounding the film as the director was actually locked up in a psychiatric ward after the film was made. What the friends are not aware of is that the director actually escaped five years back, and a police officer obsessed with the case is actually in attendance at the cinema this evening, hoping that the cult director will show up and be able to provide some answers about his bloody escape from the psychiatric ward five years back.

Midnight Movie is a bloody gory slasher, taking inspiration from the likes of A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but without ever being a copycat of its predecessors. Jack Messitt is able to make the film his own, building suspense well in places and providing a good few scares. The film was co-written by Jack Messitt and Mark Garbett, and both of these men obviously know their slashers as they have here put together a very impressive horror.

At 82 minutes the film is not overlong, it’s just a punchy, straight to the point slasher, and there’s no hanging about here as the killer begins picking off his prey. There’s no escape from the theatre as the windows and doors sit very firmly locked and bolted, and as you watch the film you just know that the majority, if not all, of the characters here are ultimately going to get caught by the killer.

Midnight Movie is a great leave your brain at home horror, and although a direct-to-DVD slasher, Midnight Movie is actually a lot better than the majority of slashers that I have seen reach the cinemas in recent years, and is most certainly a film for Jack Messitt to be very proud of.

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Bowling For Soup – Sorry For Partyin’

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Bowling For Soup - Sorry For PartyinThe tenth Bowling For Soup studio album to date, ‘Sorry For Partyin’ gets off to an absolutely incredible start with ‘A Really Cool Dance Song’, arguably the very best track on the album. ‘A Really Cool Dance Song’ is such a fun song to start with, and right away the mood of the album is set as you get ready to enjoy another entertaining album from the Texan pop punkers. “ This song sounds like a dance song, cos dance songs are cool now, so get up and shake what your momma gave ya!” sings Bowling For Soup frontman Jaret Riddick, and Bowling For Soup’s “attempt at a dance song” is definitely a massive hit with me.

‘No Hablo Ingles’ is up next, and continues the party atmosphere as another very fun piece of pop music. The same can also be said of third track ‘My Wena’, the first released single from the album, and there are a number of tracks here that really do raise a smile.

Comprising of eighteen tracks in total, there’s plenty to keep you entertained on the ‘Sorry For Partyin’ studio album, with the band proving here that even after all this time it is still able to provide the comedy. There are some tracks here that aren’t so effective as others, the quality of tracks such as ‘I Can’t Stand LA’, ‘BFFF’, and ‘Hooray For Beer’ is sure to please however, and if you’ve been impressed by previous Bowling For Soup albums then you’ll no doubt enjoy listening to this one also.

If you’re up for a bit of light-hearted humour then definitely do give ‘Sorry For Partyin’ a listen, and a very entertaining listening experience is sure to be provided. Bowling For Soup has been around since 1994 now, is still keen to provide the pop punk fun, and so long as the band keeps on churning out the albums I will continue listening.

Label: A&G Records
Release Date: October 12th 2009

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You Me At Six – Kiss and Tell EP

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You Me At Six - Kiss and Tell EPYou Me At Six has done it again, bringing out another very impressive single in the form of ‘Kiss and Tell’. Not only is the main single excellent, but the band has actually included another two tracks here to form an EP, including a hugely impressive cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’.

You Me At Six just seems to be able to reel out hit after hit at the moment, and with ‘Kiss and Tell’ the band has been able to put to record yet another incredibly infectious chorus. It’s a very fun piece of music to listen to, the drumbeat hits hard all throughout the track, and the guitar quality offered by the band here is hugely impressive also. The band is able to pack a lot of power into the music here, and this is something that continues with the ‘Poker Face’ cover also.

Arguably better than the original, You Me At Six is able to give ‘Poker Face’ a real rock feel, and again it is the guitar quality here that stands out strongly about the music. The vocals hit hard, there’s real venom in the guitar though, and this is what really makes the track the powerful piece of sound that it is.

Slowing things down for the final track, You Me At Six decides to treat us to an acoustic version of ‘Kiss and Tell’, and although the speed is slowed here, the quality certainly isn’t lessened. The acoustic nature of the track really does come across nicely here, providing a fittingly fantastic finish to a very impressive EP.

If you’ve been impressed by any of the previous singles that You Me At Six has released then you’re sure to find ‘Kiss and Tell’ incredibly enjoyable also, and if you haven’t already taken the time to give this EP a listen then I’d definitely recommend doing so. You Me At Six has once again been able to provide the goods here, offering up a 3-track EP that I have very much enjoyed listening to.

Label: Epitaph
Release Date: September 7th 2009

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Cobra Starship – Good Girls Go Bad

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Cobra Starship - Good Girls Go BadFeaturing special guest vocals from Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ is the first single from Cobra Starship’s ‘Hot Mess’ studio album, and a very catchy piece of music it is too. Unashamedly cheesy, ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ is an incredibly fun track, and is one that will no doubt get a lot of people dancing. Some Midtown fans may not approve of Gabe Saporta’s Cobra Starship, I for one am most definitely a massive fan of the band however, and have been since first hearing ‘Bring It (Snakes on a Plane)’ back in 2006.

‘Good Girls Go Bad’ may not be the best song ever written, it’s certainly a very catchy piece of pop music however, and the vocals of Leighton Meester here really do work well alongside Gabe Saporta’s. It’s an incredibly upbeat piece of music, fun to dance along to, and everything about this track is just absolutely jam packed full of positivity.

If you’ve heard the music of Cobra Starship before and aren’t already a fan then this is not a track that is likely to change your opinion, if you’ve been a fan of the band’s music in the past or are yet to give Cobra Starship’s music a listen however then I definitely recommend giving this one a go.

Cobra Starship’s ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ will no doubt be blasting out of my speakers for some time to come, and if you too have a soft spot for cheesy pop music then ‘Good Girls Go Bad’ is a track that you really must hear.

Label: Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance Records
Release Date: October 19th 2009

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Every Time I Die – New Junk Aesthetic

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Every Time I Die - New Junk Aesthetic‘New Junk Aesthetic’ is the fifth studio album from New York’s Every Time I Die, an album on which the band jumps from track to track with a fantastic element of fiery power. There’s generally no holding back here, with Every Time I Die absolutely smashing its way through much of the album, putting down fantastically well on record an aggressive metalcore sound. There are a couple of tracks here that aren’t quite as well formed as the others, and the ‘New Junk Aesthetic’ album as a whole is by no means perfect, it’s certainly a very enjoyable album to listen to however, and it’s good to hear the band getting back to what it does best.

The ‘New Junk Aesthetic’ album is absolutely loaded with metalcore gold, and there are certain tracks here that demand to be listened to a hundred times over. There are of course a couple of tracks here where the band turns up the southern style, particularly on ‘Wanderlust’ where Keith Buckley can actually be heard singing for a large percentage of the track. I have to admit that I’m far more a fan of the harder hitting Every Time I Die style, ‘Wanderlust’ is still a pretty good effort from the band however, and I actually rather like it.

There are three notable guest appearances here, with Greg Puciato of The Dillinger Escape Plan featuring on ‘The Marvellous Slut’, Matt Caughthran of The Bronx featuring on ‘The Sweet Life’, and even Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy fame makes a guest appearance here featuring on the track ‘After One Quarter of a Revolution’. The inclusion of Pete Wentz on the album seems to be a pretty odd one on paper, the track itself works well though, and if you weren’t told that he appeared on this two minute blast of power then you’d never have guessed it otherwise.

13 tracks feature here in total, with the album clocking in at around 37 minutes in length. There are only a couple of tracks here that are longer than 4 minutes (‘Wanderlust’ being one of them), and generally the tracks tend to come in at around 2-3 minutes; a perfect length for an album of this sort. The album has been very well put together, is packed full of energy, and whilst it may not be the band’s best ever album release, ‘New Junk Aesthetic’ is arguably the best Every Time I Die album since 2003s ‘Hot Damn!’.

‘New Junk Aesthetic’ is a quality fifth studio album from Every Time I Die, and one that is sure to make a lot of people happy to hear it. Every Time I Die is a band getting back towards its best, and it’s very refreshing to hear it, too. Definitely be sure to give ‘New Junk Aesthetic’ a listen, and the chances are that you’ll be very pleased with what you find.

Label: Epitaph
Release Date: September 15th 2009

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Forgotten Roots – Crosses and Circles

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Forgotten Roots - Crosses and CirclesHailing from Blyth in Northumberland, Forgotten Roots is a four-piece punk rock band with a great deal of potential. It’s taken four years for the band to get to the point that it’s at now, with finding the perfect bassist and drummer having proven to have been a bit of a problem for Forgotten Roots; after all those years of frustration a suitable line-up has now been discovered however, and the band has now been able to record its debut mini-album in the form of ‘Crosses and Circles’.

The vocals are a little shaky at times here, sounding rather strained at certain points, despite this though the ‘Crosses and Circles’ mini-album still provides plenty of promise, with certain tracks really standing out strongly here. Forgotten Roots is a band influenced by the likes of Alkaline Trio, Green Day, and Madina Lake, and several of these influences can most definitely be heard here. ‘Bats’ is very much a nod towards the music of Alkaline Trio, ‘Memories’ meanwhile wouldn’t sound too out of place on ‘39/Smooth’ or ‘Kerplunk’.

A great deal of instrumental talent has been showcased on this mini-album, there’s a supreme sense of melody about the music, and whilst the band’s sound is not yet completely perfect, Forgotten Roots is a band of undoubted talent, and a full-length studio album can surely be expected in the not too distant future.

Forgotten Roots is without doubt a band to watch out for, and if you’re a fan of bands such as Alkaline Trio and Green Day then I’d definitely recommend giving the ‘Crosses and Circles’ mini-album a listen.

Label: Poison Tree Records
Release Date: October 12th 2009

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Red Mist – Last Dance Before Doomsday

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Red Mist - Last Dance Before Doomsday‘Last Dance Before Doomsday’ is the third EP from Exeter based death metal band Red Mist, and it really is an EP with a lot to offer. All four tracks here are incredibly high in energy, and never does the music fail to disappoint as Red Mist blasts through these four tracks with fantastic venom.

Red Mist is not a band that has set out to reinvent the wheel, what this band has done however is concentrate on creating top quality metal music, and done a very good job of it too. There are so many average metal bands out there churning out unlistenable tripe, Red Mist is definitely not one of those bands though, and the ‘Last Dance Before Doomsday’ EP is absolute proof of this.

‘Descent Into Chaos’ kicks the EP off well, and all three tracks that follow have a lot to offer also as the band shows off superbly its fine instrumental talent and ability to inject an absolute abundance of energy in its sound. Not one track disappoints here, and the ‘Last Dance before Doomsday’ EP does in fact leave you well and truly wanting for more.

Red Mist is most definitely a band with a great deal of talent, and in Red Mist the UK has a death metal band to be truly proud of.

Label: Bored Stiff Records
Release Date: December 7th 2009

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The Medullary Paralysis – We Don’t Drink, We Don’t Take Drugs, We Don’t Have Sex, We Feel Compassion

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The Medullary Paralysis - We Don’t Drink, We Don’t Take Drugs, We Don’t Have Sex, We Feel CompassionReading that first track ‘Compassion on the Dance Floor’ was nominated in 2008 for Best International Alternative Song at the Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards, and that second track ‘Fashion Slave’ was a Semi-Finalist in the Rock/Indie category at the UK Songwriting Contest 2008, I therefore had high hopes for this three track offering from Italian three-piece The Medullary Paralysis, listening to these three tracks however has left me feeling seriously underwhelmed.

‘We Don’t Drink, We Don’t Take Drugs, We Don’t Have Sex, We Feel Compassion’ promised so much on paper, and the band’s website even tells me that “You have an out-of-body experience when we mix The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson. And Tears for Fears too. Indie industrial glam on the dance floor.” The EP, despite its promise, is really quite disappointing however, and I just have to say that I really don’t get it. Perhaps it’s a case that this band is just a little bit too different for my liking, I’m not really sure, what I am sure of however is that this record just fails to really impress me. There’s some reasonable industrial edge, although there are some positives to be taken when listening to each individual component of the music separately however, the tracks taken as a whole just don’t really work for me.

There are obviously people out there that are rather fond of The Medullary Paralysis, and hence the awards nominations that the tracks have received; I’m not one of those people though, and this is not a band that I have any interest in hearing again in the future.

Label: Bandcamp
Release Date: November 16th 2009

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Full Scream Ahead – We Write Our Own Anthems

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Full Scream Ahead - We Write Our Own AnthemsFull Scream Ahead is a four-piece pop rock band from Bristol, and with the ‘We Write Our Own Anthems’ EP the band is looking to impress the masses with its anthems.

The ‘We Write Our Own Anthems’ EP gets off to an absolutely incredible start with ‘To Be You’, and straight away the most striking quality of the music is the vocals. Lead vocalist Justin Percival has a very distinctive voice, and this is therefore something that instantly grabs you about the music. Such emotion can here be heard coming through in Justin’s vocals, with every word sung sounding like it’s absolutely 100% meant.

Throughout the EP there is some pretty powerful drum work, with guitar hooks aplenty that are sure to put a smile on the face. Full Scream Ahead isn’t exactly the most appropriate band name in the world, the actual title of the EP does seem to ring true however as the band sets about pulling off an EP of absolute anthems.

All six tracks on the ‘We Write Our Own Anthems’ EP have choruses to be proud of; Full Scream Ahead only actually formed in 2008, already this is a band that is showing great signs of potential however, and Full Scream Ahead is most definitely a band to watch out for in the future.

Label: Sugarshack Records
Release Date: September 21st 2009

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